Bruschi optimistic about NFL labor situation

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 5:32pm — Christopher Price

FOXBORO — Former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi expressed optimism on Tuesday afternoon about the NFL labor situation. Speaking at his fourth annual SBLI Youth Football Clinic at Gillette Stadium, Bruschi sounded a positive note when asked if the players and owners could reach an agreement sooner rather than later.

"I'm getting optimistic, and so are some of the guys. Having talked to them and they're hearing the same things — looks like a few weeks maybe," he said.

"But I think the whole thing about it is that when it's resolved — and it looks like it may be ... I hope it is — when it's resolved, what's the formula after that? There just can't be an explosion of free agency, signing undrafted free agents, rookies, having to sign rookies, having to sign free agents. There has to be some type of structure. I think that's what has to be worked out, because you would have football chaos if there wasn't."

Bruschi added that because of the relative stability in New England — coach Bill Belichick is entering his 12th season with the Patriots, while quarterback Tom Brady will be going into his 11th year as a starter — that once the lockout does end, the Patriots will be better situated than many teams across the league who have new coaches or relatively young quarterbacks.

"There's a strong advantage, I think it's obvious. To be comfortable with the system, with your coaching staff ... think of all the players out there that have had to get used to [it]?" he said. "I remember having to get used to Pete Carroll and getting used to coach Belichick. It took a little bit of time on what we wanted, what they expected of me, and then, learning the system that they wanted to implement and how they wanted me to play it on the field. There's a little bit of a [stretch] there. How long does that take? Does it take a month? Does it takes two months? That's possible."